TRENTON -- Despite Gov. Chris Christie's vow to veto any attempt to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, a "fact-finding" hearing on the issue will be held next week to build support in the state Legislature, according to the bill's sponsor.

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), who introduced the bill 18 months ago, said the Senate Judiciary Committee he chairs will hold a hearing next Monday, calling it "a first step in the process of finally reversing our punitive marijuana laws that have caused harm to our residents and our communities."

"There is no question that we need to update our archaic drug laws in this country and the majority of people support regulating, taxing and legalizing marijuana," Scutari said in a statement Monday.

"This is a fact-finding hearing that we hope will help to continue to inform the committee and the Legislature as we take up this very important issue," Scutari added.

Scutari said the drug war as far as marijuana is concerned has been a costly failure. He cited a report by the American Civil Liberties Union that found New Jersey spent $127.3 million on marijuana law enforcement in 2010. The report also found African-Americans are nearly three times more likely in New Jersey to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites, even though the rate of marijuana use is similar.

The hearing at the Statehouse Annex is open to the public but only invited guests may testify, according to Scutari's announcement. They will include health professionals, law enforcement officers, clergy, civil rights organizations and policy experts.

Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. have legalized the recreational use of cannabis.

As both a governor and a candidate for president, Christie has called marijuana a "gateway" drug that is harmful to children. He has said that if elected president, he would challenge the states that legalized its recreational use.